RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Washing Away Your Sins: Threatened Morality and Physical Cleansing
JF Science
JO Science
FD American Association for the Advancement of Science
SP 1451
OP 1452
DO 10.1126/science.1130726
VO 313
IS 5792
A1 Zhong, Chen-Bo
A1 Liljenquist, Katie
YR 2006
UL http://science.sciencemag.org/content/313/5792/1451.abstract
AB Physical cleansing has been a focal element in religious ceremonies for thousands of years. The prevalence of this practice suggests a psychological association between bodily purity and moral purity. In three studies, we explored what we call the “Macbeth effect”—that is, a threat to one's moral purity induces the need to cleanse oneself. This effect revealed itself through an increased mental accessibility of cleansing-related concepts, a greater desire for cleansing products, and a greater likelihood of taking antiseptic wipes. Furthermore, we showed that physical cleansing alleviates the upsetting consequences of unethical behavior and reduces threats to one's moral self-image. Daily hygiene routines such as washing hands, as simple and benign as they might seem, can deliver a powerful antidote to threatened morality, enabling people to truly wash away their sins.